The National Implementation Plan of Japan under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

Transcription

1 The National Implementation Plan of Japan under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants Modified in August 2012

2 This National Implementation Plan was developed by the "Inter-Ministerial General Directors Meeting on the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants", and endorsed by the "Council of Ministers for Global Environment Conversation" on 24 June Revision was made in accordance with Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention on the Implementation Plan and guidance of decision SC-1/12 (Annex, II 7) and process of decision SC-2/7 (Annex, Step 7) of the Conference of the Parties. The revised plan was endorsed by the Inter-Ministerial General Directors Meeting on the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants on 7 August 2012.

3 Table of contents Page Chapter 1 Introduction 1 Section 1 Background to the adoption of the Stockholm Convention and Japan s accession 2 Section 2 Historical Background of POPs issues in Japan 3 Section 3 Procedures for the development and revision of the national implementation plan 4 Chapter 2 The current status of Japan 6 Section 1 Country profile 6 1. Population and other statistics 6 2. Political structure 8 3 The manufacturing and agricultural sectors Employment in the major economic sectors 11 Section 2 Implementation status of measures regarding POPs Regulation of production, use, import and export Measures regarding unintentional production Measures regarding stockpiles and wastes Environmental monitoring 13 Section 3 Current situations and problems surrounding POPs Status of general environment Effectiveness evaluation of measures taken and remaining problems 28 Chapter 3 Specific measures - strategy and elements of the National Implementation Plan 33 Section 1 Basic concept 33 Section 2 Effective implementation of the plan Framework of implementation and cooperation among actors Coordination of various national policies 35 Section 3 Regulatory measures designed to prevent the manufacture, use, import and export of persistent organic pollutants Measures under the Chemical Substances Control Law Measures under the Agricultural Chemicals Regulation Law 37 3 Measures under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law Measures under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law 38 Section 4 Action Plan for Reduction of Emissions of Unintentionally Produced Chemicals Dioxins Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) 54

4 4. Pentachlorobenzene(PeCB) 56 Section 5 Measures to eliminate polychlorinated biphenyl Ban on use Elimination 57 Section 6 Strategy for identification of stockpiles and wastes, and measures for sound management and disposal Stored agricultural chemicals Obsolete chlordanes Dioxin-contaminated wastes Dioxin-containing agricultural chemicals Industrial products containing PFOS or its salts Brominated flame retardants of plastics 68 Section 7 Strategy for Identification of contaminated sites Dioxins Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) Others 71 Section 8 Countermeasures against chemical substances not listed in the Annex of the Stockholm Convention 71 Section 9 Measures for monitoring POPs in the environment 72 Section 10 International measures Measures in responses to the Stockholm Convention Coordination with other related international conventions 75 Section 11 Provision of information Compilation of information Consultation with stakeholders Publicity activities 78 Section 12 Promotion of research and technological development Overall policy Individual research and technological development 79 Chapter 4 Review and updating of the national implementation plan 81 Reference materials Status of general environment (Tables and Figures) Government Plan to Reduce Dioxins Levels Resulting from Business Activities in Japan 96

5 Chapter 1 Introduction Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (hereafter referred to as the Stockholm Convention) requires each party to the Stockholm Convention to develop its national implementation plan (NIP) for implementation of its obligations under the Stockholm Convention and to transmit its NIP to the Conference of the Parties within two years of the date on which the Convention enters into force for the Party. Upon the addition of chemicals to the annex, each party is required to review and update the implementation plan in accordance with guidance of decision SC-1/2 (Annex, II 7) and process of decision SC-2/7(Annex, Step 7) of the Conference of the Parties. In addition, Article 5 of the Stockholm Convention requires each party to develop an action plan designed to reduce or eliminate releases from unintentional production of Persistent Organic Pollutants (hereafter referred to as POPs ), and to subsequently implement it as a part of its NIP. Thus, with the addition of nine new chemicals to the annex at the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties in May 2009, the National Implementation Plan was reviewed and updated. In addition to the nine new chemicals, this plan also covers endosulfan which was added to the annex at the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties in April 2011 (entering into force on October 27, 2012). By international cooperation and through each party s concrete actions obliged under the Stockholm Convention based on its NIP, the reduction of POPs on global scale is expected to be promoted to realize the protection of human health and the environment. The Convention prescribes that each party should implement the following measures. Measures to reduce or eliminate releases from intentional production and use Measures to reduce or eliminate releases from unintentional production (including the development and implementation of an action plan) Measures to reduce or eliminate releases from stockpiles and wastes containing POPs To develop and implement a national implementation plan for these measures Other measures Measures to prevent the production and use of new POPs Research and development, monitoring, provision of information to the public and education on POPs etc. Technical and financial assistance to developing countries. This document is a national implementation plan of Japan under Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention and includes an action plan on unintentional products under subparagraph (a) of Article 5 of the Convention. 1

6 This document was developed in reference to the guidance document for developing a national implementation plan for the Stockholm Convention, which was prepared by United Nations Environmental Plan (hereafter referred to as UNEP) and the World Bank, and adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its first session in May, Section 1 Background to the adoption of the Stockholm Convention and Japan s accession POPs such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and DDT are toxic, persistent, bioaccumulative, and are transported through air, water and migratory species across international boundaries and deposited far from their location of emission and accumulate in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, it came to be internationally recognized that there are health concerns resulting from local exposure to POPs especially in developing countries, and in particular impacts upon women and through them, upon future generations, and that Arctic ecosystems and indigenous communities are particularly at risk because of the bioaccumulation of POPs through food chain, and the contamination of their traditional foods is a public health concern. It was recognized that actions by only a limited number of countries are insufficient for the worldwide elimination and reduction of POPs. Therefore, negotiations within a multilateral framework were initiated in 1998 to draft an international convention on the elimination and reduction of POPs. In the wake of discussions and negotiations at 2 meetings of the Expert Group to define the criteria of POPs and 5 meetings of the Inter-Governmental Negotiating Committee, the Stockholm Convention was adopted at the Conference of Plenipotentiaries held in Stockholm in May, The Japanese government has positively participated in the work to establish a legally binding international framework since the first Inter-Governmental Negotiating Committee. The Japanese government acceded to the Convention on 30 August On 17 February 2004, the fiftieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession to become a Party to the Stockholm Convention was submitted and the Stockholm Convention entered into force on 17 May As of March 2012, 176 countries including Japan are the contracting parties to the Convention. 2

7 Section 2 Historical Background of POPs issues in Japan In the past, crops, water and soil contaminated with high residue level of agricultural chemicals such as DDT, aldrin and dieldrin etc. used in Japan led to social problems. Hence, the Agricultural Chemicals Regulation Law (Law No. 82 of 1948) was amended in 1971, and then the evaluation system for the residue in crops, water and soil and the toxicity was introduced on agricultural chemicals registration. Thus, in addition to the protection measures for aquatic organisms, a new regulation was introduced whereby the registration of agricultural chemicals is withheld if they may cause human health and livestock adverse effect through residues in crops or soil or through water pollution. Dieldrin and chlordane were also used as insecticides for termite control raising concerns for environmental pollution. In 1980s, the use of these chemicals for non-agricultural purposes were regulated by prior authorization for their production and import (practically prohibited) and the restriction and notification for their use (practically prohibited), under the Law concerning the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture etc. (Law No. 117 of 1973, hereafter referred to as the Chemicals Substances Control Law) PCB, which possesses chemical stability, insular characteristics and incombustibility etc., has been used for a wide range of purposes including electrical insulation oil and heating medium, for transformers and electrical condensers and so on. However, ever since 1966 it has become increasingly apparent that PCB contaminates the environment as exemplified in the PCB detected in the remains of fish and birds worldwide. In Japan too, in 1968 it was disclosed that the PCB used as heating medium in the manufacturing process of cooking oil had contaminated the product, causing health hazards (the Kanemi Cooking Oil Health Hazards Incident). Subsequently, PCB came to be detected in various creatures and breast milk so that PCB contamination became a major social issue. Given this situation, the production of PCB ceased ever since 1972 and the Chemical Substances Control Law was enacted in Under the law, an institutional framework was created to evaluate in advance the chemical substances like PCB, which resist degradation in the environment, bioaccumulate in the bodies of living organisms and are likely to hazardous to the health of human beings in cases of continuous intake, and to regulate production, import and use of chemicals with a view to preventing the environment from being contaminated by such chemical substances. The Chemical Substances Control Law was amended in 2003, to bring within its regulation chemical substances which are likely to cause damages to top predators in the ecosystem. Moreover, there were several moves to establish PCB disposal facilities under the initiative of the private sector in order to dispose of the PCB already produced. However, such moves failed to ensure understanding and consent from local communities, with the result that 3

8 much of the PCB had remained in stockpiling without being disposed of over nearly 30 years. It was also found that during the long term stockpiling some transformers were lost or became untraceable and there were concerns that such stockpiled PCB might contaminate the environment. Thus, in June 2001, the Law concerning Special Measures against PCB Waste (Law No.65 of 2001, hereafter referred to as the PCB Special Measures Law) was enacted to obligate entities etc. possessing PCB wastes to report the status of their stockpiling and to dispose of such waste within a given timeframe in an environmentally sound manner, with a view to facilitating the sure and correct disposal of PCB waste. The environmental issue related to dioxins (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and coplanar PCBs) attracted public attention in 1983 when investigations revealed that dioxins were detected in the fly ashes from municipal waste incinerators. Therefore, measures to monitor dioxins in the bottom sediment and aquatic animals and plants in the rivers, lakes, marshes and sea waters as well as the atmosphere was initiated in Investigations were implemented on the actual status of waste incinerators in 1984 and pulp and paper factories in On the basis of the findings from these investigations, guidelines were established and administrative guidance on controlling emissions was conducted. Furthermore from around 1996 onward civil society became increasingly concerned about environmental contamination caused by releases from waste incinerator facilities. In 1997 dioxins were designated as hazardous air pollutants and measures were introduced to control their emission into the atmosphere in terms of the preventive actions taken to reduce risks of health hazards under the Air Pollution Control Law (Law No.97 of 1968). Furthermore, in July 1999, the Law concerning Special Measures against Dioxins (Law No.105 of 1999, hereafter referred to as the Dioxins Law) was established and the regulatory framework was put in place to implement comprehensive measures such as establishing the tolerable daily intake and environmental quality standards, regulating the release of emission gases and effluent water from a wide range of facilities, introducing enhanced regulation on waste disposal and conducting investigations on the actual status of contamination and taking measures against contaminated soil and other matters. Now these measures are implemented under the Law. Section 3 Procedures for the development and revision of the national implementation plan In January 2003, Inter-Ministerial General Directors Meeting on the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and its Steering Committee were established and these 4

9 started their work for developing the NIP. After the Inter-Ministerial Meeting had developed the draft NIP document in May 2005, the Inter-Ministerial Meeting published the draft NIP document for comments from the general public for 2 weeks. Afterwards, the National Implementation Plan was amended by the Inter-Ministerial Meeting and submitted to the Council of Ministers for Global Environment Conversation for its endorsement on 24 June At the Fourth Conference of the Parties, amendments were made to list nine new chemicals, and the modification came into force on August Hence, with the cooperation of relevant ministries, the revision of the 2005 NIP started in 2011 and the revised NIP was drafted and published in June 2012 by the Inter-Ministerial Meeting for a 30-day public commenting period. After further revisions, the Plan was adopted at the Inter-Ministerial meeting of 7 August

10 Chapter 2 The current status of Japan Section 1 Country profile 1. Population and other statistics (1) Geography The area of Japan is approximately 378,000 km 2. And it is situated to the east of the Asian Continent. Japan consists of four major islands (Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku in the diminishing order of the size of area) and has many other smaller islands. Japan faces the Pacific Ocean on the eastern side, and the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea between Japan and the Asian Continent. Diagram: Japanese map Hokkaido Sea of Japan Tohoku Kyushu Chugoku Shikoku Kinki Chubu Kanto Okinawa the Pacific Ocean (Source: Web-japan homepage [Ministry of Foreign Affairs] 6

11 (2) Official language and educational system Japan s official language is Japanese, and literacy rate is almost 100%. Six years of elementary school and three years of junior high school are compulsory, and 97.5% of students graduating junior high school go to high school and other institutions (as of 2004). 49.9% of students graduating high school go to universities (graduate course) and junior colleges (this figure includes the number of those students attending preparatory schools for university) (as of 2004). (3) Population dynamics The total population of Japan is approximately 128 million (as of 2010). Table: Total population and age composition Population (unit: 1,000 persons) Proportion (%) Year Total number 0~14 years 15~64 years 65 years and over 0~14 years 15~64 years 65 years and over ,963 20,416 32,605 2, ,737 21,924 34,792 3, ,450 23,579 37,807 3, ,254 25,545 40,484 3, ,115 29,786 50,168 4, ,077 30,123 55,167 4, ,302 28,434 60,469 5, ,209 25,529 67,444 6, ,665 25,153 72,119 7, ,940 27,221 75,807 8, ,060 27,507 78,835 10, ,049 26,033 82,506 12, ,611 22,486 85,904 14, ,570 20,014 87,165 18, ,926 18,472 86,220 22, ,768 17,521 84,092 25, ,057 16,803 81,032 29, Source: Report on National Census, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Notes: Persons whose ages are unknown have been included in the total numbers since 1975 (4) Average life expectancy In 2010, the average life expectancy is 79.6 years for men and 86.4 years for women. (5) Population of 15 years old or more and unemployment rate According to the Labour Force Survey in 2010, the population of 15 years old or more is million. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. 7

12 2. Political structure (1) Form of government The present Constitution came into effect on 3 May The Cabinet Law came into effect at the same time, and with it the present cabinet system was established. In others words, under the sovereignty of the nation the separation of the three powers of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary is ensured thoroughly, and at the same time, under the basic framework of a two-house parliamentary cabinet system, the Cabinet was given the status of the main body of executive authority. Diagram: The separation of the three powers under the Japanese Constitution Designation of Prime Minister Non-confidence resolution Diet Determine the constitutionality of legislation Dissolve Lower House (House of Representatives) Convoke Diet Legislature Elections Impeachment trial Administration Sovereignty Nation Review of judges Administrative organs Cabinet Judiciary Supreme Court Review of the legitimacy of acts of parliament (Diet), regulations and enforcements Designation of the chief judge of the Supreme Court Appointment of judges to the Supreme Court The Prime Minister is given the position of Head of the Cabinet and represents the Cabinet. Furthermore, under the Constitution, executive power is vested in the Cabinet. The Cabinet Office and 11 ministries established under the Cabinet exercise administration. Furthermore, committees and agencies are established as external bureau of the Cabinet Office. 8

13 Diagram: Structure of the Legislature (Diet), the Executive and the Judiciary Diet Cabinet Court House of Representatives House of Councilors Judge Impeachment Judge Indictment Committee National Diet Library Cabinet Office National Public Safety Commission Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry of Justice Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Ministry of Finance (MOF) Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) Supreme Court High Courts (8) District Courts (50) Family Courts (50) Summary Courts (438) Committee of the Inquest of Prosecution (201) Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) Ministry of the Environment (MOE) Ministry of Defense Board of Audit Source: Homepage of the Prime Minister of Japan and his Cabinet ( (2) The number of local public authorities There are 47 prefectures, 786 cities, 753 towns and 184 villages in Japan (as of August 2011). 41 cities have been designated as major urban cities (as of April 2011) Source: Homepage of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications ( 9

14 (3) The status of local public authorities and decentralization The fundamental principle of local autonomy is set in the Local Autonomy Law (Law No. 67 of 1947). This law specifies the formal and organizational framework of local public authorities, and matters regarding their administration. Furthermore, this law stipulates the fundamental relations between the government and local public authorities. 3 The manufacturing and agricultural sectors (1) Table: Overview of the manufacturing and agricultural sectors Sector Manufacturing Mining Agriculture, forestry and fisheries Total (1)Contribution rate to Gross Domestic Product (unit: billion yen)(as of 2009) 84,732 (18.0%) 300 (0.1%) 6,659 (1.4%) 91,690 (19.5%) (2)Number of employees (thousand persons)(as of 2009) 9,827 (15.6%) 31 (0.05%) 388 (0.6%) 10,246 (16.3%) Source: (1) Annual National Accounts, Cabinet Office, (2) 2009 Economic Census for Business Frame, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Note: The definitions of manufacturing and agricultural sectors in each of the statistics vary. (2) Table: The structure of the manufacturing and agricultural sectors Sector Micro Business Small-Scale Business Medium-Scale Business Large-Scale Business Manufacturing 340,114 63,650 10,584 3,432 (81.4%) (15.2%) (2.5%) (0.8%) Agriculture, forestry and fisheries 25,794 (90.1%) (9.4%) 139 (0.5%) 4 (0.0%) Total of all sectors 3,746, ,505 49,877 12,388 (87.6%) (10.9%) (1.2%) (0.3%) Source: 2009 Economic Census for Business Frame, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Note: As of March 13, Micro businesses are defined here as holding between 1 and 19 employees, small-scale businesses between 20 and 99 employees, medium-scale businesses between 100 and 299 employees, and large-scale businesses more than 300 employees. 10

15 4. Employment in the major economic sectors Table: Employment situation in major types of industry Type of Industry Number of Businesses (Establishments) Number of Employees Forestry 4,930 61,144 Metal mining Coal and lignite mining Crude petroleum and natural gas 64 3,690 Food 52,597 1,294,264 Beverages, tobacco and feed 9, ,745 Textile mill products 55, ,252 Lumber and wood products except furniture 15, ,372 Furniture and fixtures 25, ,598 Pulp, Paper and paper products 12, ,895 Chemicals and related products 10, ,669 Petroleum and coal products 1,635 34,081 Plastic products 24, ,843 Leather tanning, leather products and fur skins 6,908 46,515 Ceramic, stone and clay products 23, ,861 Iron and steel 7, ,68 Non-ferrous metals and products 5, ,222 Fabricated metal products 68, ,889 General purpose machinery 27, ,291 Production machinery 41, ,864 Business oriented machinery 11, ,401 Electrical machinery, equipment and supplies 19, ,573 Transportation equipment 21,087 1,051,191 Electricity 1, ,753 Gas ,598 Heat supply 230 2,613 Water 6, ,363 Waste treatment services 23, ,986 Source: 2009 Economic Census for Business Frame, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Note: As of March 13, 2012 Section 2 Implementation status of measures regarding POPs 1. Regulation of production, use, import and export Production, use, import and export of the chemicals designated under the Stockholm Convention are prohibited or virtually prohibited under the Chemical Substances Control Law, the Agricultural Chemicals Regulation Law, the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law (Law No. 145 of 1960), 11

16 the Export Control Ordinance (Ordinance No. 378 of 1949) and the Import Control Ordinance (Ordinance No. 414 of 1949) based on the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law (Law No. 228 of 1949). These measures will be described for detail in Section 3 of Chapter Measures regarding unintentional production In Japan under the Dioxins Law, PCDDs, PCDFs and coplanar PCBs are defined as the dioxins. Environmental quality standards, tolerable daily intake (TDI) and emissions standards for effluent water and emission gases from specified facilities are set forth. A government plan to reduce the release of dioxins is established, and various release reduction measures are promoted in a comprehensive manner. According to the current scientific knowledge, the source categories and the formation processes of PCB and Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) are considered to be similar to those of dioxins. Therefore, it is assumed that the release of PCB and HCB has also been reduced through the dioxins reduction measures. Under the Law concerning Reporting etc. of Releases to the Environment of Specific Chemical Substances and Promoting Improvements in Their Management (Law No.86 of 1999, hereafter referred to as the Chemical Substances Release Reporting and Management Promotion Law) dioxins and PCB are subject to the requirements of the PRTR (Pollutants Release and Transfer Register) system. 3. Measures regarding stockpiles and wastes (1) Collection and detoxification of agricultural chemicals containing POPs It is prohibited to distribute or use agricultural chemicals containing 14 chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention or endosulfan as the active ingredient, respectively. Additionally, manufacturers and the like have collected these agricultural chemicals and have either stored them safely or detoxified them. In Japan, organochlorine agricultural chemicals including certain POPs (aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, DDT and BHC; hereafter referred to as POPs agricultural chemicals ) used to be stored in the ground. According to a survey done by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the total amount of stored POPs agricultural chemicals and the number of the stored places identified were 4,400 tons and 168 places, respectively. Approximately 4,000 tons of these POPs agricultural chemicals were already excavated and handled properly by February

17 (2) Study for proper disposal of POPs wastes Stored POPs agricultural chemicals mentioned above and ashes from incineration plants etc. containing dioxins must be disposed of appropriately as wastes containing POPs. Wastes containing dioxins are properly disposed of under the Dioxins Law and the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law (Law No.137 of 1970, hereafter referred to as the Waste Management Law). Wastes containing PCB are disposed of under the PCB Special Measures Law. In 2009, Guideline for detoxifying waste electrical machinery etc. contaminated by small amount of PCB incineration and Guideline for collecting and transporting waste electrical machinery etc. contaminated by small amount of PCB (Revised August 2011) were issued to promote safe and definite detoxification, collection and transport of waste electrical machinery etc. contaminated by small amount of PCB. To understand the actual wastes emissions and formulate their disposal standards, etc. for other POPs wastes, Technical Documents on Treatment of Agricultural Chemicals containing POPs and Technical Documents on Treatment of Wastes containing PFOS were formulated based on the outcomes of the above mentioned development of detoxification methods etc. for agricultural chemical wastes containing POPs and wastes containing perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) or its salts. 4. Environmental monitoring In Japan, environmental monitoring on a continuous basis was initiated from 1978 with respect to wildlife and from 1986 with respect to water and bottom sediment with a view to understanding and monitoring long term trends of persistence of chemical substances in the environment. Considering the accumulation and continuity of such data, the measurement has been conducted, in principle, using the same sampling and analytical methods with occasional minor adjustments as necessary. Monitoring of POPs has been newly added in 2002 to the framework of the on-going survey on the actual conditions of chemical substances in the environment. This investigation aims to monitor the quantity of POPs in Japan and verify the effectiveness of the measures for eliminating and reducing their emission. The nationwide monitoring of dioxins started in 1985 with respect to bottom sediment and aquatic animals in the rivers, lakes, marshes and sea waters and in 1986 with respect to the ambient air. In 1998, water and soil also became subject to nationwide monitoring of dioxins. Furthermore, since 2000, local public authorities have been implementing a larger scale monitoring as a continuous monitoring under the Dioxins Law. The local public authorities monitor PCB in the rivers, lakes, reservoirs and sea waters as part of the regular-observation for the public water quality under the Water Pollution Control Law 13

18 (Law No.138 of 1970). Section 3 Current situations and problems surrounding POPs 1. Status of general environment This section outlines the annual trends of concentration of 12 POPs in each environmental medium in Japan and the current situation surrounding POPs. These are based on the results of environmental monitoring conducted up to FY2010. The section also briefly addresses the results of newly listed POPs (HCHs, hexabromobiphenyls polybromodiphenyl ethers, PFOS, pentachlorobenzene, and chlordecone). Inter-annual trends are based on the results of surveys conducted after the introduction of a new high sensitive analytical method in FY2002 which significantly improved the detection limit.(see Reference materials for main past activities in environmental monitoring and current analytical methods used.) (1) Dioxins (i) Air The government started surveys on ambient air in FY1986. Since FY1997, it has conducted annual surveys under the Air Pollution Control Law. Since FY2000, local public authorities have been conducting such surveys on a large scale as the regular observation under the Dioxins Law. Regarding FY2010 surveys; A total of 2,427 specimens from 746 sites across the country were surveyed. The 691 sites, where measurement was conducted more than twice throughout the year, including in summer and in winter, as required for the evaluation against the environmental quality standard for ambient air of an annual average of 0.6 pg-teq/m 3 or less, showed an average dioxins concentration of pg-teq/m 3 with a range of to 0.32 pg-teq/m 3. Of these sites, no site exceeded the environmental quality standard for ambient air (excess rate of 0.0%). Surveys for the PCDDs/DFs concentration have been continued at 33 sites. The current average PCDDs/DFs concentration at these sites was substantially declining to pg-teq/m 3, compared with 0.61pg-TEQ/m 3 in FY1997. (ii) Public waters The government started surveys on the quality of public waters in FY1998. Since 14

19 FY2000, local public authorities have been conducting such surveys on a large scale as regular observation under the Dioxins Law. Regarding FY2010 surveys; A total of 1,610 sites across the country showed average dioxins concentration of 0.19 pg-teq/l with a range of to 2.1 pg-teq/l. Of these sites, 26 sites (25 sites in rivers and one site in a lake) exceeded the environmental quality standard for water of annual average of 1 pg-teq/l or less (excess rate of 1.6%). Surveys are continued at 784 sites. The current average concentration of dioxins at these sites has been declining to 0.21 pg-teq/l, compared with 0.47 pg-teq/l in FY2000. (iii) Bottom sediment in public waters The government started surveys on bottom sediment in public waters in FY1985. Since FY2000, local public authorities have been conducting such surveys on a large scale as the regular observation under the Dioxins Law. Regarding FY2010 surveys; A total of 1,328 sites across the country showed average dioxins concentration of 6.9 pg-teq/g-dry with a range of to 320 pg-teq/g-dry. Of these sites, six sites (five sites in rivers and one site in a sea) exceeded the environmental quality standard for bottom sediment of 150 pg-teq/g or less (excess rate of 0.5%). Surveys are continued at 495 sites. The current average concentration of dioxins at these sites has been declining to 9.8 pg-teq/g-dry, compared with 17 pg-teq/g-dry in FY2000. (iv) Groundwater The government started surveys on groundwater in FY1998. Since FY2000, local public authorities have been conducting such surveys on a large scale as the regular observation under the Dioxins Law. Regarding FY2010 surveys; A total of 590 sites across the country showed average dioxins concentration of pg-teq/l with a range of to 0.44 pg-teq/l. All sites met the environmental standard for water of annual average of 1 pg-teq/l or less. (v) Soil The government started surveys on soil in FY1998. Since FY2000, local public authorities have been conducting such surveys on a large scale as the regular observation under the Dioxins Law. 15

20 Regarding FY2010 surveys; A total of 998 sites across the country showed average dioxins concentration of 3.0 pg-teq/g-dry with a range of 0 to 94 pg-teq/g-dry. Of these sites, no site exceeded the environmental quality standard for soil of 1,000 pg-teq/g-dry or less (excess rate of 0.0%). An average dioxins concentration at 714 sites, targeted in a general environmental survey, was 2.1 pg-teq/g-dry with a range of to 61 pg-teq/g-dry. An average dioxins concentration at 284 sites, targeted in a survey on areas surrounding sources was 5.4 pg-teq/g-dry with a range of 0 to 94 pg-teq/g-dry. (vi) Aquatic life The government implemented surveys on aquatic life from FY1985 to FY1999. Regarding FY1999 surveys; A total of 2,832 specimens of fish, crustaceans and shellfish from 543 sites showed average dioxins concentration of 1.4 pg-teq/g-wet with a range of to 33 pg-teq/g-wet. The average concentration was slightly lower and the range remained at almost same level, compared with the FY1998 figures (average of 2.1pg-TEQ/g-wet and a range of to 30 pg-teq/g-wet). (vii) Wild mammals/birds The government implemented surveys on wildlife from FY1997 to FY2007. Regarding FY2007 surveys; A total of 41 specimens of birds, marine mammals and land mammals were examined. Accumulated concentrations remained at the same level compared with the past surveys. Although the average concentration was higher than the past results, no clear trend was observed. The surveys insisted that although the amount of environmentally released dioxins has decreased from measures taken at the emission source, its effect is limited or will take time for the accumulated concentration in wildlife. (viii) Human The government started surveys on human in FY2002. Regarding FY2010 surveys; The average dioxins concentration in blood for 174 people was 14 pg-teq/g-fat with a range of 0.10 to 82 pg-teq/g-fat, both within the range of the past surveys. The average dioxins concentration in blood for 2,264 people covered in the past nine 16

21 years is 19 pg-teq/fat with a range of 0.10 to 130 pg-teq/fat. Blood dioxin concentration differed significantly by area, age, breast-feeding or childbirth experience, and occupation. (2) Polychlorinated biphenyls(pcbs) The government has been continuously monitoring PCBs in wildlife (bivalves, fish and birds) from FY1978 to FY2001. As for air, water and sediments, a highly sensitive analytical method was introduced in FY2001, and a descriptive analysis was done for conjugates and coplanar PCBs. Using this method, the government has been monitoring the concentration levels in wildlife (bivalves, fish and birds), air, water and sediments annually with its monitoring survey since FY2002. (i) Wildlife Especially in Tokyo Bay, Osaka Bay and Offshore of Himeji, which are semi-closed water areas and located close to densely populated districts, the PCB concentration in sea bass is relatively high, compared with specimens in other areas. The figure seems to be fluctuating in Tokyo Bay and Osaka Bay between tens and hundreds of ng/g-wet. Thus it is difficult to identify a clear trend. The PCB concentration in dace in Lake Biwa has remained stable at tens of ng/g-wet (See reference materials Figure 1). For bivalves, the PCB concentration in blue mussel and purplish bifurcate mussel in Dokai Bay has been decreasing. The concentrations in hard-shelled mussel in Naruto and blue mussel in Yamada Bay and coast of Noto Peninsula have stayed stable below 10 ng/g-wet. (See reference materials Figure 2). Regarding the FY2010 surveys, PCBs were detected from all sites for bivalves, fish and birds (detection limit: 20pg/g-wet). The range of total concentration was 1,500 to 46,000 pg/g-wet, 880 to 260,000 pg/g-wet, 6,600 to 9,100 pg/g-wet for bivalves, fish and birds, respectively. (ii) Air No significant trend was observed through FY2002 to FY2010. Regarding the FY2010 surveys, PCBs were detected from all sites within the range of 36 to 970 pg/m 3 and 19 to 630 pg/m 3 by total concentration for warm season and cold season, respectively. (iii) Water Statistically significant decrease of PCB concentration in rivers, lakes and estuaries was observed through FY2002 to FY2010. Reduction tendency in specimens from overall areas was also identified as statistically significant. The total PCB concentration in water varies widely from undetected to 2,200 pg/l 17

22 (detection limit: 24 pg/l). Regarding FY2010 surveys, the PCB concentration exceeded 1,000 pg/l at a number of ports and estuaries near large cities such as those along Tokyo Bay and Osaka Bay (See reference materials Table 6). (iv) Sediment No significant trend was observed through FY2002 to FY2010. The total PCB concentration in bottom sediment also varies widely from undetected to 710,000 pg/g-dry (detection limit: 220pg/g-dry). The PCB level is especially high in Osaka Port. In Keihin Canal (Port of Kawasaki), Dokai Bay and mouth of River Sumida, PCBs were detected over one hundred thousands pg/g-dry (See reference materials Table 7). The environmental quality standard for water and soil requires that PCBs should not be detected by the gas chromatography method at the quantification limit of mg/l. The FY2010 survey on public waters and groundwater ascertained that all measuring sites meet the standard. (3) Hexachlorobenzene(HCB) The government has monitored the HCB concentration in organisms from 1978 to 2001, excluding 1997 and The HCB concentration in air was first measured in 1999 in the Survey on Development of an Analytic Method for Chemicals and then in the Environmental Survey on Endocrine Disruptors. As for HCB concentration in water and sediment, the government has done monitoring surveys from 1986 to 1998 and 2001, respectively. A high sensitive analytical method was introduced in FY2002, and the HCB concentration levels in wildlife (bivalves, fish and birds), air, water and sediment are monitored annually. (i) Wildlife No significant trend was observed through FY2002 to FY2010. HCB has been detected from all sites since FY2002. Regarding FY2010 surveys, HCB was detected at concentration ranges of 4 to 210 pg/g-wet, 36 to 1,700 pg/g-wet and 500 to 1,900 pg/g-wet for bivalves, fish and birds, respectively. (ii) Air No significant trend was observed through FY2002 to FY2010. HCB has been detected from all sites since FY2002. Regarding FY2010 surveys, concentration in air ranged from 73 to 160 pg/m 3 (warm season) and 56 to 380 pg/m 3 (cold season). (iii) Water Statistical analysis from FY2002 to FY2010 indicated a decreasing trend in rivers and 18

23 estuaries. Reduction tendency in specimens from overall areas was also identified as statistically significant. Regarding FY2010 surveys, concentration in water ranged from undetected to 120 pg/l with the detection limit of 4 pg/l. (iv) Sediments No significant trend was observed through FY2002 to FY2010. Regarding FY2010 surveys, HCB was detected from all sites with a concentration range of 4 to 21,000pg/g-dry. (4) Aldrin, dieldrin and endrin The government had monitored drins in biological specimens annually from FY1978 to FY1989, and then on FY1991 and FY1993. Annual surveys using high sensitive method was conducted from FY2002 to FY2009 on wildlife (bivalves, fish and birds), air, water and sediment. Although drins were once used within the country, the environmental concentrations stayed constant over the years. Thus, with the addition of chemicals to the Stockholm Convention list, the frequencies of governmental surveys were reviewed and drins were decided to be monitored at two to three year intervals from FY2011. Since no survey was conducted for FY2010, the results of the FY2009 survey are summarized below. (i) Wildlife Statistical analysis from FY2002 to FY2009 indicated a decreasing trend of dieldrin concentration in black-tailed gulls and gray starlings. The decrease in concentration of endrin in black-tailed gulls was also recognized as statistically significant. Dieldrin has been detected from all sites since the FY2002 survey. Regarding FY2009 survey, dieldrin was detected at concentration ranges of 48 to 28,000 pg/g-wet, 29 to 1,400 pg/g-wet, and 330 to 890 pg/g-wet for bivalves, fish and birds respectively. Regarding the FY2009 survey, endrin was detected at concentration ranges of 5 to 1,400 pg/g-wet, undetected to 270 pg/g-wet, and 3 to 43 pg/g-wet for bivalves, fish and birds respectively (detection limit 3pg/g-wet). Compared to dieldrin and endrin, aldrin was less frequently detected. Regarding FY2009 survey, aldrin was detected only from bivalves and fish at concentration ranges of undetected to 89 pg/g-wet and undetected to 3.1 pg/g-wet respectively at detection limit of 0.8pg/g-wet. (ii) Air No significant trend was observed through FY2002 to FY2009 for aldrin, dieldrin or endrin. Regarding FY2009 survey, dieldrin and endrin was detected from almost all sites for 19

24 both warm and cold seasons. The concentration of dieldrin ranged from 0.91 to 150 pg/m 3 and 0.52 to 80 pg/m 3 for warm and cold season, respectively. The concentration of endrin ranged from undetected to 3.4 pg/m 3 and undetected to 1.8 pg/m 3 for warm and cold season, respectively (detection limit 0.04 pg/m 3 ). Compared to dieldrin and endrin, aldrin was less frequently detected. Aldrin was detected at concentration ranges of undetected to 10 pg/m 3 and undetected to 1.8 pg/m 3 for warm and cold season, respectively (detection limit 0.02 pg/m 3 ). (iii) Water Statistical analysis from FY2002 to FY2009 indicated a decreasing trend in concentration of endrin in overall areas. No significant trend was observed through FY2002 to FY2009 for aldrin and endrin. Regarding FY2009 survey, aldrin, dieldrin and endrin were detected from almost all sites at concentration levels of undetected to 22 pg/l, 2.7 to 650 pg/l and undetected to 67 pg/l, respectively (detection limits 0.3 pg/l (aldrin), 0.3 pg/l (endrin)). (iv) Sediment Statistical analysis from FY2002 to FY2009 indicated a decreasing trend in concentration of aldrin in sea area and endrin in overall areas. No significant trend was observed through FY2002 to FY2009 for endrin. Regarding FY2009 survey, aldrin, dieldrin and endrin were detected from almost all sites at concentration levels of undetected to 540 pg/g-dry, 1.1 to 3000 pg/g-dry and undetected to 11,000 pg/g-dry, respectively (detection limits 0.2pg/g-dry (aldrin), 0.6pg/g-dry (endrin)). (5) DDTs The government started the measurement of DDTs (six DDTs, including p,p'-ddt, o,p'-ddt, p,p'-dde, o,p'-dde, p,p'-ddd and o,p'-ddd) on biological specimens in Water and bottom sediment specimens were monitored for three p,p'-ddts from 1986 to 1998 and 2001, respectively. In 2002, a high-sensitivity analytical method was adopted and monitoring has continued for six DDTs in all specimens. (i) Wildlife Statistical analysis from FY2002 to FY2010 indicated a decreasing trend in concentrations of five DDTs (excluding p,p -DDE) in bivalves. The decrease in concentration of four DDTs (excluding p,p -DDT and o,p -DDT) in fish specimens were also recognized as statistically significant. Regarding FY2010 surveys, all of the six DDTs were detected from all sites for bivalves 20

25 and fish. The total concentration was within the range of 460 to 7,400 pg/g-wet, 360 to 19,000 pg/g-wet and 6,400 to 160,000 pg/g-wet for bivalves, fish and birds, respectively (detection limit 4.3 pg/g-wet). Of the six DDTs, the metabolite p,p -DDE tend to dominate in wildlife specimens (See reference materials Figure 4). As for fish specimens, higher p,p -DDE concentration was observed in sea bass from Tokyo Bay (See reference materials Figure 5). (ii) Air Statistical analysis from FY2002 to FY2010 indicated a decreasing trend in concentrations of four DDTs (excluding p,p -DDT and p,p -DDD) in warm season. As for cold season, the decrease in concentration of two DDTs (o,p -DDT and o,p -DDE) were also recognized as statistically significant. No significant trend was observed for p,p -DDTs in both warm and cold seasons. Regarding FY2010 surveys, all six DDTs were detected from all sites in both warm and cold seasons, with total concentration ranges of 1.0 to 290 pg/m 3 and 1.4 to 41 pg/m 3 respectively. (iii) Water Statistical analysis from FY2002 to FY2010 indicated a decreasing trend in the concentrations of p,p -DDT in lakes, p,p -DDE in rivers and estuaries, o,p -DDD in estuaries, and o,p -DDT in overall areas. No significant trends were observed for o,p -DDE or p,p -DDD. Regarding FY2010 surveys, all of the six DDTs were detected from almost all sites. The total concentration was in the range of 8.0 to 11,000 pg/l. (iv) Sediment No significant trend was observed through FY2002 to FY2010 for any of the six DDTs. Regarding FY2010 surveys, all six DDTs were detected from all sites at a wide range of 42 to 330,000 pg/g-dry by total concentration. (6) Chlordanes Chlordanes (cis-chlordane, trans-chlordane, cis-nonachlor, trans-nonachlor, oxychlordane) were monitored in wildlife (bivalves, fish and birds) from FY1983 to FY2001. As for water and sediment specimens, monitoring surveys were done from FY1986 to FY1998 and FY1986 to FY2001, respectively, for five isomers excluding oxychlordane. Since FY2002 the government has been conducting annual monitoring surveys for wildlife (bivalves, fish and birds), air, water and sediment. (i) Wildlife Regarding fish, a high chlordane concentration has been detected in sea bass in Tokyo 21

26 Bay and Osaka Bay and Dace in River Azumi of Lake Biwa (See reference materials Table 8). However, the trans- and cis-chlordane and oxychlordane concentrations are on the decline (See reference materials Figure 6). Since FY2002, chlordane has been found in all fish specimens. For bivalves, statistical analysis from FY2002 to FY2010 indicated a decreasing trend in concentrations of cis-chlordane, trans-nonachlor and oxychlordane. No significant trend was observed for cis-nonachlor. Chlordanes have been detected from bird specimens as well. Regarding FY2010 surveys, chlordanes were detected from all sites of wildlife specimens. The total concentrations ranged from 230 to 31,000 pg/g-wet, 230 to 11,000 pg/g-wet and 860 to 1,600 pg/g-wet for bivalves, fish and birds, respectively. (ii) Air Since FY2002, chlordanes are detected from all sites. Statistical analysis from FY2002 to FY2010 indicated a decreasing trend in concentrations of all five chlordanes in warm season. Regarding FY2010 surveys, total concentration ranged from 6.6 to 2,100 pg/m 3 and 2.9 to 380 pg/m 3 for warm and cold season, respectively. (iii) Water Since FY2002, chlordanes are detected from almost all sites. Statistical analysis from FY2002 to FY2010 indicated a decreasing trend in concentrations of cis-chlordane, trans-chlordane and trans-nonachlor in overall areas. No significant trends were identified for oxychlordane or cis-nonachlor. Regarding FY2010 surveys, chlordanes were detected at range of undetected to 540 pg/l by total concentration (detection limit 12 pg/l). (iv) Sediment The chlordane concentration in bottom sediment tends to be relatively high near large cities (See reference materials Table 9). Statistical analysis from FY2002 to FY2010 indicated a decreasing trend in the concentrations of trans-chlordane, cis-nonachlor and trans-nonachlor in sea areas. The decreasing trend in concentration of cis-chlordanes in specimens from overall areas was also identified as statistically significant. No significant trend was observed for oxychlordane. Regarding FY2010 surveys, chlordanes were detected at total concentrations of 14 to 25,000 pg/g-dry. (7) Heptachlors The government started the measurement of heptachlor for water, bottom sediment and organisms in It started the measurement of air in The heptachlor epoxide concentration 22